Nate Boerkircher

Nate Boerkircher News

Nate Boerkircher Securing Jacksonville's TE2 Role

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Nate Boerkircher has strengthened his redraft outlook by emerging as the clear No. 2 option behind Brenton Strange. The second-round rookie has been listed directly behind Strange on Jacksonville's depth chart throughout the preseason, and the Jaguars gave another indication of how they view him by sitting both tight ends against Carolina last Friday. Boerkircher did play in the preseason opener against New Orleans and went without a target, though his work as a blocker drew positive reviews. His receiving upside has shown up more often in practice. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound rookie caught a red-zone touchdown from Trevor Lawrence during joint work with Carolina, and Jacksonville has discussed using more multiple-tight end packages this season. Boerkircher caught only 38 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns across his college career, but the Jaguars believe those numbers undersold what he can offer as a receiver. Strange remains firmly atop the position and Jacksonville has plenty of other targets, so standard-league value will be difficult to find early. Still, Boerkircher's increasingly secure TE2 role makes him a name to watch in deeper redraft and tight end-premium formats.

Aug 27, 2026 10:27 AM EST

Nate Boerkircher Stacking Strong Practices in Jaguars Camp

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher has put together a strong stretch of practices heading into Saturday's preseason opener against New Orleans. John Shipley of Sports Illustrated noted that Boerkircher has been more involved in the passing game over the past week while continuing to stand out as a blocker. That part of his game will get a better test against the Saints, especially with Jacksonville planning to sit its starters. Boerkircher has flashed as a receiver, too, catching a red-zone touchdown from Trevor Lawrence during Thursday's joint practice. The Jaguars used their first pick of the 2026 draft on Boerkircher at No. 56 overall after he caught 19 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns at Texas A&M last season. He's currently listed second behind Brenton Strange on the unofficial depth chart. Strange remains the clear starter, but Boerkircher's blocking gives him a path to early snaps while his receiving role continues to develop.

Aug 15, 2026 9:41 AM EST

Nate Boerkircher the Favorite for TE2 Duties in Jacksonville

Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that Jacksonville Jaguars rookie second-rounder Nate Boerkircher is the favorite to be the team's No. 2 tight end behind Brenton Strange in 2026. Boerkircher had only 38 catches for 417 yards and four touchdowns in five collegiate seasons with Nebraska and Texas A&M, but the Jags "have been extremely high on their rookie" and what he can do for the rest of the offense. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder figures to make an impact immediately as a blocker, but they also think that he has untapped potential in the passing game. It won't be easy for Boerkircher, though, as he'll face competition from Quinton Morris and fellow rookie fifth-rounder Tanner Koziol. Koziol was "hands-down the most impressive tight end" not named Strange during offseason workouts. Depending on how the numbers shake out for the final 53-man roster, Hunter Long could be the odd-man out at the position. For Jacksonville's No. 2 TE role, blocking will be a point of emphasis, and Boerkircher definitely has the upper hand there over Koziol, whose blocking was a serious question mark in college.

Jul 9, 2026 5:50 PM EST

Jaguars Select Nate Boerkircher With 56th Overall Pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Texas A&M tight end prospect Nate Boerkircher with the 56th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This was the Jaguars' first selection of the draft, and they spent it on a tight end despite already having Brenton Strange on their roster. We shouldn't be too surprised by the addition, though, as pre-draft reporting indicated that the Jaguars wanted to come out of the draft with an impact tight end to complement Strange on offense. After four years with Nebraska, Boerkircher transferred to A&M for the 2025 season and ultimately tallied 19 catches, 198 yards, and three touchdowns. Those are underwhelming receiving metrics, and while the Jaguars do plan to get him more involved in the passing game, he's a blocker first and foremost. He posted a 72.2 PFF grade in run blocking last season. Ranked as the consensus #162 prospect in the draft according to NFLMockDraftDatabase.com, some might say this was a bit of a reach for Jaguars general manager James Gladstone. The fantasy rankings would tend to agree, as Boerkircher falls outside the top 85 tight ends in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

Apr 24, 2026 4:48 PM EST